Reader Reviews
Wisdom and patience of the Navaho solves this mystery, July 11, 2003
Reviewer:
Alan M. Waintraub
from Marietta, GA United States
Like other Tony Hillerman novels that I have read, Sacred Clowns is like a leisurely visit with some old friends, sharing fascinating and entertaining stories and feelings. Not only do you get to further explore the symbiotic but always tenuous relationship between officers Leaphorn and Chee, but you have the opportunity to learn about indian artifacts, Hopi and Navaho culture, beliefs and ceremonies. Sacred Clowns is another collaborative effort between Leaphorn and Chee, slowly but surely bringing this story together like solving a complex puzzle. Two seemingly unrelated murders, a valuable artifact and a Hopi ceremony provide the foundation for the intrigue. There is an interesting assortment of characters (a politician, school teacher, environmentalist, lawyers, just to name a few) whose associations and interactions provide the hints and clues upon which the puzzle slowly comes together. As always, you get to experience the imagery that Hillerman describes of the desert southwest, throughout the story. For me, the really compelling part of this novel, like the other Hillerman novels about the Navaho Tribal Police, is the interactions and personality clashes between Leaphorn and Chee - this provides a very interesting and entertaining way to learn about these characters. You get to know them like close acquaintances who let you know their thoughts about what is happening in the story, and how these events and circumstances touch their personal lives. Although the story ends a bit abruptly for me, I think that previous readers of Hillerman novels, as well as newcomers, will find this book a worthwhile endeavor.